DOCSLIB.ORG

Confirmation Bias in Criminal Cases

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Moa Lidén Confirmation Bias in Criminal Cases Dissertation presented at Uppsala University to be publicly examined in Sal IV, Universitetshuset, Biskopsgatan 3, 753 10 Uppsala, Uppsala, Friday, 28 September 2018 at 10:15 for the degree of Doctor of Laws. The examination will be conducted in English. Faculty examiner: Professor Steven Penrod (John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University New York). Abstract Lidén, M. 2018. Confirmation Bias in Criminal Cases. 284 pp. Uppsala: Department of Law, Uppsala University. ISBN 978-91-506-2720-6. Confirmation bias is a tendency to selectively search for and emphasize information that is consistent with a preferred hypothesis, whereas opposing information is ignored or downgraded. This thesis examines the role of confirmation bias in criminal cases, primarily focusing on the Swedish legal setting. It also examines possible debiasing techniques. Experimental studies with Swedish police officers, prosecutors and judges (Study I-III) and an archive study of appeals and petitions for new trials (Study IV) were conducted. The results suggest that confirmation bias is at play to varying degrees at different stages of the criminal procedure. Also, the explanations and possible ways to prevent the bias seem to vary for these different stages. In Study I police officers’ more guilt presumptive questions to apprehended than non-apprehended suspects indicate a confirmation bias. This seems primarily driven by cognitive factors and reducing cognitive load is therefore a possible debiasing technique. In Study II prosecutors did not display confirmation bias before but only after the decision to press charges, as they then were less likely to consider additional investigation necessary and suggested more guilt confirming investigation. The driving forces need further examination. Study III suggests that pretrial detentions influence judges’ perception of the evidence strength, making them more likely to convict, in cases where they themselves detained. This is indicative of a confirmation bias with social explanations, which, possibly, can be mitigated by changing decision maker between detention and main hearing. The confirmatory reasoning in Study I-III can be considered rational or irrational, following different types of rationality, like probabilistic or judicial rationality. In Study IV, statistical estimates based on empirical data from the Apellate Courts and the Supreme Court indicate that far from all wrongfully convicted who appeal or petition for a new trial are acquitted. A robustness analysis confirmed that these overall conclusions hold over a wide variety of assumptions regarding unknown parameters. Also, the usage of empirical methods to study law and legal phenomena is discussed. The concept of Evidence-Based Law (EBL) is used to exemplify how empirical legal research may benefit both legal scholarship and law in a wider sense. Keywords: legal decision making, bias, confirmation bias, criminal cases, criminal procedure, police, prosecutor, judge, legal system, empirical legal research, evidence based law, debiasing technique Moa Lidén, Department of Law, Box 512, Uppsala University, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden. © Moa Lidén 2018 ISBN 978-91-506-2720-6 urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-351709 (http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-351709) For my fellow dung beetles List of Papers This thesis is based on the following four studies, which are referred to in the text by their Roman numerals. The four studies comprise in total five papers. I Lidén, M., Gräns, M., Juslin, P. (2018). The Presumption of Guilt in Suspect Interrogations: Apprehension as a Trigger of Confirmation Bias and Debiasing Techniques. Law and Human Behavior, 42 (4), 336-354 (Published) II Lidén, M., Gräns, M., Juslin, P. (2018). From Devil’s Advocate to Crime Fighter: Confirmation Bias and Debiasing Techniques in Prosecutorial Decision Making. Psychology, Crime & Law (Submit- ted) III Lidén, M., Gräns, M., Juslin, P. (2018). “Guilty, No Doubt”: Deten- tion Provoking Confirmation Bias in Judges’ Guilt Assessments and Debiasing Techniques. Psychology, Crime & Law (Epub ahead of print) IV Lidén, M., Gräns, M., Juslin, P. (2018). Self-Correction of Wrongful Convictions: Is there a “System-level” Confirmation Bias in the Swedish Legal System’s Appeal Procedure for Criminal Cases? – Part I. Law, Probability & Risk (Epub ahead of print) Lidén, M., Gräns, M., Juslin, P. (2018). Self-Correction of Wrongful Convictions: Is there a “System-level” Confirmation Bias in the Swedish Legal System’s Appeal Procedure for Criminal Cases? – Part II. Law, Probability & Risk (Epub ahead of print) Reprints were made with permission from the respective publishers. Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................. 11 1.1 General .......................................................................................... 11 1.2 Research Aims and Questions ....................................................... 14 1.3 Demarcations ................................................................................. 16 1.4 Thesis Outline ................................................................................ 17 Chapter 2. Methodological Framework ................................................... 18 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 18 2.2 Legal Decision Making and Methods in Legal Scholarship ......... 20 2.2.1 The Context of Discovery and The Context of Justification ............. 20 2.2.2 The American Legal Realists Research on the Operation of Thinking .................................................................................................................... 24 2.2.3 The Dualistic Ontology of Law ......................................................... 26 2.3 Methodological Assumptions ........................................................ 28 2.3.1 Assumptions in Legal Scholarship .................................................... 29 2.3.1.1 The Assumption of Transparency ............................................. 29 2.3.1.2 The Assumption of Consciousness ............................................ 30 2.3.2 Assumptions in Empirical Sciences .................................................. 31 2.3.2.1 The Assumption of Causation and Effect .................................. 31 2.3.2.2 The Assumption of Practical Relevance ................................... 35 2.4 Employed Methods ........................................................................ 39 2.5 Evidence-Based Law (EBL)? ........................................................ 42 Chapter 3. Confirmation Bias ................................................................... 45 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................... 45 3.2 Description of Confirmation Bias ................................................. 46 3.2.1 Confirmation Bias – A Long-Recognized Phenomenon ................... 46 3.2.2 Major Research Trends Since the 1960’s ......................................... 47 3.2.3 Nickerson’s Definition ...................................................................... 53 3.2.3.1 Conscious and Subconscious Decision Making Processes ....... 55 3.2.4 Confirmation Bias in Context ........................................................... 60 3.2.4.1 Witch hunt ................................................................................. 61 3.2.4.2 Medicine .................................................................................... 62 3.2.4.3 Science ....................................................................................... 63 3.2.4.4 The Legal Context ..................................................................... 65 3.2.4.4.1 Criminal Cases ................................................................... 66 3.2.4.4.1.1 Criminal Investigations .............................................. 67 3.2.4.4.1.1.1 The General Focus of the Inquiry ...................... 67 Suspect Driven Investigations ............................................ 67 Assymetrical Skepticism .................................................... 68 3.2.4.4.1.1.2 Identifications and Interrogations ...................... 70 Line-up Identifications ....................................................... 70 Suggestive Information and Leading Questions ................ 75 3.2.4.4.1.1.3 Forensic Investigation and Analysis .................. 80 Crime Scene Investigations ................................................ 80 Forensic Analysis ............................................................... 83 3.2.5 Confirmation Bias as a Description of Behavioral Patterns ............ 106 3.2.5.1 Relating and Demarcating Overlapping Confirmatory Behaviors ............................................................................................................. 108 3.3 Explanations of Confirmation Bias ............................................. 117 3.3.1 Perspectives in Cognitive Psychology ............................................ 118 3.3.2 Perspectives in Emotion and Motivation Psychology ..................... 122 3.3.3 Perspectives in Social and Organizational Psychology .................. 129 3.3.3.1 Social Psychology ................................................................... 130 3.3.3.2 Organizational Psychology ...................................................... 144 3.3.4 Confirmation Bias and Rationality .................................................
Recommended publications
  • Social Psychology Glossary

    Social Psychology Glossary

    Social Psychology Glossary This glossary defines many of the key terms used in class lectures and assigned readings. A Altruism—A motive to increase another's welfare without conscious regard for one's own self-interest. Availability Heuristic—A cognitive rule, or mental shortcut, in which we judge how likely something is by how easy it is to think of cases. Attractiveness—Having qualities that appeal to an audience. An appealing communicator (often someone similar to the audience) is most persuasive on matters of subjective preference. Attribution Theory—A theory about how people explain the causes of behavior—for example, by attributing it either to "internal" dispositions (e.g., enduring traits, motives, values, and attitudes) or to "external" situations. Automatic Processing—"Implicit" thinking that tends to be effortless, habitual, and done without awareness. B Behavioral Confirmation—A type of self-fulfilling prophecy in which people's social expectations lead them to behave in ways that cause others to confirm their expectations. Belief Perseverance—Persistence of a belief even when the original basis for it has been discredited. Bystander Effect—The tendency for people to be less likely to help someone in need when other people are present than when they are the only person there. Also known as bystander inhibition. C Catharsis—Emotional release. The catharsis theory of aggression is that people's aggressive drive is reduced when they "release" aggressive energy, either by acting aggressively or by fantasizing about aggression. Central Route to Persuasion—Occurs when people are convinced on the basis of facts, statistics, logic, and other types of evidence that support a particular position.
  • Violence: Interpersonal, Intergroup, and International. with Comments

    Violence: Interpersonal, Intergroup, and International. with Comments

    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 053 001 SO 001 265 AUTHOR North, Robert TITLE Violence: Interpersonal, Intergroup, and International. With Comments. INSTITUTION Diablo Valley Education Project, Berkeley, Calif.; New York Friends Group Inc., New York. Center for War/Peace Studies. PUB DATE 15 Oct 69 NOTE 22p. EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS *Conflict, Conflict Resolution, Decision Making, *Foreign Relations, Human Relations, Interaction Process Analysis, *Intergroup Relations, *Models, Policy Formation, Political Power, Political Science, Systems Approach, *Violence, World Affairs, World Problems IDENTIFIERS Nation States, Peace, *War ABSTRACT This paper takes a holistic view of the conditions and causes of conflict and violence. Beginning with an analysis of interaction and conflict between individuals, the author proceeds to examine its occurrence on the group, organization, and nation-state level.. He points out that since all human interaction involves some conflict, we should consider alternative modes for conflict management. Several uni-causes have at times been put forth for war--including biological instinct, a form of psychotic behavior, etc. The line of argument taken here is that national leaders will always try to move their nation in directions which reduce whatever discrepancies they perceive between the state of affairs they believe they are living in, and the state of affairs they prefer. Based on this analysis, the general dynamics of conflict and violence between nations of varying levels of power are examined. The author points out that because of these dynamics, warfare is almost inseparable from the nation state (and empire) system as it has existed with the exception of a few countries such as Sweden, who have chosen to play world politics in a different way.
  • Behavioural Sciences, Research Methods

    Behavioural Sciences, Research Methods

    ROUTLEDGE Behavioural Sciences and Research Methods Catalogue 2021 January - June New and Forthcoming Titles www.routledge.com Welcome THE EASY WAY TO ORDER Welcome to the January to June 2021 Behavioural Sciences and Book orders should be addressed to the Research Methods catalogue. Taylor & Francis Customer Services Department at Bookpoint, or the appropriate overseas offices. We welcome your feedback on our publishing programme, so please do not hesitate to get in touch – whether you want to read, write, review, adapt or buy, we want to hear from you, so please visit our website below or please contact your local sales representative for Contacts more information. UK and Rest of World: Bookpoint Ltd www.routledge.com Tel: +44 (0) 1235 400524 Email: [email protected] USA: Taylor & Francis Tel: 800-634-7064 Email: [email protected] Asia: Taylor & Francis Asia Pacific Tel: +65 6508 2888 Email: [email protected] China: Taylor & Francis China Prices are correct at time of going to press and may be subject to change without Tel: +86 10 58452881 notice. Some titles within this catalogue may not be available in your region. Email: [email protected] India: Taylor & Francis India Tel: +91 (0) 11 43155100 eBooks Partnership Opportunities at Email: [email protected] We have over 50,000 eBooks available across the Routledge Humanities, Social Sciences, Behavioural Sciences, At Routledge we always look for innovative ways to Built Environment, STM and Law, from leading support and collaborate with our readers and the Imprints, including Routledge, Focal Press and organizations they represent. Psychology Press.
  • Book Problem-Solving Now

    Book Problem-Solving Now

    book Problem-solving now Problem solving consists of using generic or ad hoc methods, in an orderly manner, for finding solutions to problems. Some of the problem-solving techniques developed and used in artificial intelligence, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or medicine are related to mental problem-solving techniques studied in psychology. == Definition == The term problem-solving is used in many disciplines, sometimes with different perspectives, and often with different terminologies. For instance, it is a mental process in psychology and a computerized process in computer science. Problems can also be classified into two different types (ill-defined and well-defined) from which appropriate solutions are to be made. Ill-defined problems are those that do not have clear goals, solution paths, or expected solution. Well-defined problems have specific goals, clearly defined solution paths, and clear expected solutions. These problems also allow for more initial planning than ill-defined problems. Being able to solve problems sometimes involves dealing with pragmatics (logic) and semantics (interpretation of the problem). The ability to understand what the goal of the problem is and what rules could be applied represent the key to solving the problem. Sometimes the problem requires some abstract thinking and coming up with a creative solution. === Psychology === In psychology, problem solving refers to a state of desire for reaching a definite 'goal' from a present condition that either is not directly moving toward the goal, is far from it, or needs more complex logic for finding a missing description of conditions or steps toward the goal. In psychology, problem solving is the concluding part of a larger process that also includes problem finding and problem shaping.
  • How Power Influences the Dynamics and Outcomes of Interpersonal Interaction

    How Power Influences the Dynamics and Outcomes of Interpersonal Interaction

    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by UNL | Libraries University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology Psychology, Department of May 2001 Getting what they came for: How power influences the dynamics and outcomes of interpersonal interaction. Mark Snyder University of Minnesota, [email protected] Marc T. Kiviniemi University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub Part of the Psychiatry and Psychology Commons Snyder, Mark and Kiviniemi, Marc T., "Getting what they came for: How power influences the dynamics and outcomes of interpersonal interaction." (2001). Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology. 13. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/13 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Psychology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 8 Getting What They Came For How Power Infl uences the Dynamics and Outcomes of Interpersonal Interaction MARK SNYDER MARC T. KIVINIEMI any social interactions are indelibly tinged by issues of power and of power diff erences. Consider some common social interactions: M First, imagine a job candidate going in for an interview with a po- tential employer. Next, consider a teacher meeting new students on the fi rst day of class. Th en, imagine two people meeting for a fi rst date. Finally, imagine two college roommates meeting for the fi rst time at the beginning of the semester.
  • Logic Made Easy: How to Know When Language Deceives

    Logic Made Easy: How to Know When Language Deceives

    LOGIC MADE EASY ALSO BY DEBORAH J. BENNETT Randomness LOGIC MADE EASY How to Know When Language Deceives You DEBORAH J.BENNETT W • W • NORTON & COMPANY I ^ I NEW YORK LONDON Copyright © 2004 by Deborah J. Bennett All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America First Edition For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to Permissions, WW Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110 Manufacturing by The Haddon Craftsmen, Inc. Book design by Margaret M.Wagner Production manager: Julia Druskin Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bennett, Deborah J., 1950- Logic made easy : how to know when language deceives you / Deborah J. Bennett.— 1st ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-393-05748-8 1. Reasoning. 2. Language and logic. I.Title. BC177 .B42 2004 160—dc22 2003026910 WW Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10110 www. wwnor ton. com WW Norton & Company Ltd., Castle House, 75/76Wells Street, LondonWlT 3QT 1234567890 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: LOGIC IS RARE I 1 The mistakes we make l 3 Logic should be everywhere 1 8 How history can help 19 1 PROOF 29 Consistency is all I ask 29 Proof by contradiction 33 Disproof 3 6 I ALL 40 All S are P 42 Vice Versa 42 Familiarity—help or hindrance? 41 Clarity or brevity? 50 7 8 CONTENTS 3 A NOT TANGLES EVERYTHING UP 53 The trouble with not 54 Scope of the negative 5 8 A and E propositions s 9 When no means yes—the "negative pregnant" and double negative 61 k SOME Is PART OR ALL OF ALL 64 Some
  • How Power Influences the Dynamics and Outcomes of Interpersonal Interaction

    How Power Influences the Dynamics and Outcomes of Interpersonal Interaction

    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology Psychology, Department of May 2001 Getting what they came for: How power influences the dynamics and outcomes of interpersonal interaction. Mark Snyder University of Minnesota, [email protected] Marc T. Kiviniemi University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub Part of the Psychiatry and Psychology Commons Snyder, Mark and Kiviniemi, Marc T., "Getting what they came for: How power influences the dynamics and outcomes of interpersonal interaction." (2001). Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology. 13. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/psychfacpub/13 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Psychology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications, Department of Psychology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 8 Getting What They Came For How Power Infl uences the Dynamics and Outcomes of Interpersonal Interaction MARK SNYDER MARC T. KIVINIEMI any social interactions are indelibly tinged by issues of power and of power diff erences. Consider some common social interactions: M First, imagine a job candidate going in for an interview with a po- tential employer. Next, consider a teacher meeting new students on the fi rst day of class. Th en, imagine two people meeting for a fi rst date. Finally, imagine two college roommates meeting for the fi rst time at the beginning of the semester. Each of these scenarios contains at least two common features, which together set the stage for the arguments that are off ered in this chapter.
  • Power, Politics & Persuasion in Foreign Policy Decision

    Power, Politics & Persuasion in Foreign Policy Decision

    WHO ADVISES? POWER, POLITICS & PERSUASION IN FOREIGN POLICY DECISION-MAKING DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Brent A. Strathman, B.A., M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 2005 Dissertation Committee: Approved by Associate Professor Donald Sylvan, Adviser Professor Richard K. Herrmann ___________________________ Professor Kathleen McGraw Adviser Graduate Program in Political Science ABSTRACT In a complex foreign policy system, involving myriad bureaucracies, advisors, and political entrepreneurs, who advises? What advice is heeded, and which advisor is followed? While most scholars tacitly acknowledge the importance of advisors in international relations, few attempt to answer the question of how advisors impact the decision making process, and the limits to successful advising. Importantly, the question of ‘who advises?’ is often crucial in explaining war and peace, since advisors often impact leader opinions and dictate the course of foreign policy. My dissertation blends insights from psychology and foreign policy to create a comprehensive framework describing foreign policy advising. In my framework, advisors compete against each other in a ‘marketplace of ideas.’ Successful advisors are those who draw from four bases of power (access, expertise, experience, and rhetoric) to posit salient appeals. However, these appeals are constrained by leader dispositions (such as militant assertiveness and political knowledge) and the strategic situation (the foreign policy problem a decision maker faces). I construct a set of hypotheses that combines bases of power, leader predispositions, strategic situation, and advisory technique to predict when advisors matter. I use experiments and comparative case studies to empirically explore these hypotheses.
  • Situational Racism and Self-Fulfilling Stereotypes

    Situational Racism and Self-Fulfilling Stereotypes

    DePaul Law Review Volume 53 Issue 3 Spring 2004: Symposium - Race as Proxy in Law and Society: Emerging Issues in Article 6 Race and the Law Race as Proxy: Situational Racism and Self-Fulfilling Stereotypes Lu-in Wang Follow this and additional works at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/law-review Recommended Citation Lu-in Wang, Race as Proxy: Situational Racism and Self-Fulfilling Stereotypes, 53 DePaul L. Rev. 1013 (2004) Available at: https://via.library.depaul.edu/law-review/vol53/iss3/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Law at Via Sapientiae. It has been accepted for inclusion in DePaul Law Review by an authorized editor of Via Sapientiae. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RACE AS PROXY: SITUATIONAL RACISM AND SELF-FULFILLING STEREOTYPES Lu-in Wang* INTRODUCTION: RACE AS PROXY In our society, race can act as a proxy for a long list of characteris- tics, qualities, and statuses. For people of color,1 the most powerful of these associations have too often been negative, and have carried with them correspondingly negative consequences. 2 We often link color * Associate Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law. I thank the members of the DePaul Law Review, and especially Mark Bradford, for organizing and inviting me to participate in this wonderful Symposium. I also thank Deborah Brake, Martha Chamallas, Rich- ard Delgado, David Herring, Thomas Ross, Jean Stefancic, George Taylor, and Welsh White for their thoughtful comments on earlier drafts and Kay Marryshow, Maraleen Shields, Jessica Som- mer, James Weaver, and Arthur Wolfson for their excellent research assistance.
  • Editors and Contributors

    Editors and Contributors

    Date : 9:8:2004 File Name: Prelims.3d 10/20 Editors and Contributors General editor Richard L. Gregory, CBE, FRS, Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychology at the University of Bristol, UK Consultant editors John Marshall, Professor of Neuropsychology, Department of Clinical Neurology, Radcliffe In®rmary, Oxford, UK Sir Martin Roth, FRS, Professor of Psychiatry, Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK Key to contributor initials The names in bold are those of contributors to the present edition; their biographies follow on pages xiii±xv. AC Alan Cowey BH Beate Hermelin CSC Claudia SchmoÈlders ACH Anya C. Hurlbert BJ Bela Julesz CSH Carol Haywood ACha Abhijit Chauduri BJR Brian Rogers CT Colwyn Trevarthen AD A. Dickinson BL Brian Lake CW Colin Wilson ADB Alan Baddeley BLB Brian Lewis DaC David Chalmers ADM A. D. Milner Butterworth DAGC David Angus Graham AH Atiya Hakeem BMH Bruce Hood Cook AI Ainsley Iggo BP Brian Pippard DAO David A. Oakley AJA Sir Alfred Ayer BS Barbara J. Sahakian DC David Cohen AJC Anthony J. Chapman BSE Ben Semeonoff DCD Daniel C. Dennett AJW Arnold J. Wilkins BSh Ben Shephard DD Diana Deutsch AKJ Anil K. Jain CE Christopher Evans DDH Deborah Duncan AKS Annette Karmiloff- CF Colin Fraser Honore Smith CFr Chris Frith DDS Doron Swade ALB Ann Low-Beer CH Charles Hannam DE Dylan Evans AMH A. M. Halliday ChK Christof Koch DEB D. E. Blackman AML Alan M. Leslie ChT Chris Tyler DF Deborah H. Fouts AMS A. M. Sillito CHU Corinne Hutt DFP David Pears AO Andrew Ortony ChW Chongwei Wang DH David Howard ARL A.
  • Thesis Final.Pdf

    Thesis Final.Pdf

    Open Research Online The Open University’s repository of research publications and other research outputs Generating Natural Language Explanations For Entailments In Ontologies Thesis How to cite: Nguyen, Tu Anh Thi (2013). Generating Natural Language Explanations For Entailments In Ontologies. PhD thesis The Open University. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c 2013 Tu Nguyen Version: Version of Record Link(s) to article on publisher’s website: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21954/ou.ro.000098cc Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. oro.open.ac.uk GENERATING NATURAL LANGUAGE EXPLANATIONS FOR ENTAILMENTS IN ONTOLOGIES A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE OPEN UNIVERSIY (UNITED KINGDOM) FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THE FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING & TECHNOLOGY 2013 by Tu Anh T. Nguyen Department of Computing Contents List of Figures vii List of Tables xi Abstract 1 Acknowledgements 3 1 Introduction 5 1.1 Research Problem and Methodological Approach . .7 1.2 Contributions . 10 1.3 Plan of the Thesis . 11 1.4 Published Work . 12 2 Background 13 2.1 OWL Ontology and Description Logics . 13 2.1.1 OWL Ontology . 13 2.1.2 Description Logics . 14 2.1.3 Syntax . 15 i 2.1.4 Formal Semantics . 16 2.2 Reasoning in Description Logics . 18 2.2.1 Reasoning Tasks . 18 2.2.2 Structural Subsumption Algorithms . 20 2.2.3 Tableau-Based Algorithms .

  • Score Distribution Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, and Player Modeling for Quantitative Game Design

    SCORE DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND PLAYER MODELING FOR QUANTITATIVE GAME DESIGN DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Computer Science) at the NEW YORK UNIVERSITY TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING by Aaron Isaksen May 2017 SCORE DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND PLAYER MODELING FOR QUANTITATIVE GAME DESIGN DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Computer Science) at the NEW YORK UNIVERSITY TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING by Aaron Isaksen May 2017 Approved: Department Chair Signature Date University ID: N18319753 Net ID: ai758 ii Approved by the Guidance Committee: Major: Computer Science Andy Nealen Assistant Professor of Computer Science New York University, Tandon School of Engineering Date Julian Togelius Associate Professor of Computer Science New York University, Tandon School of Engineering Date Frank Lantz Full Arts Professor and Director New York University, NYU Game Center Date Michael Mateas Professor of Computational Media and Director University of California at Santa Cruz Center for Games and Playable Media Date Leonard McMillan Associate Professor of Computer Science University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Date iii Microfilm/Publishing Microfilm or copies of this dissertation may be obtained from: UMI Dissertation Publishing ProQuest CSA 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 iv Vita Aaron Mark Isaksen Education Ph.D. in Computer Science Jan. 2014 - May 2017 New York University, Tandon School of Engineering, Game Innovation Lab - Pearl Brownstein Doctoral Research Award, 2017 - Outstanding Performance on Ph.D. Qualifying Exam, D. Rosenthal, MD Award, 2015 - Best paper in Artificial Intelligence and Game Technology, FDG 2015 M.S.